Chapter 2

Cali's POV

"Cali, you should have told us so we can tell the managers here. Otherwise, you wouldn't have waited there for hours," Max puckered her lips, quivering in worry. 

Max, she had always been the one with the strongest character but to us, she's the most protective and caring. She easily gets edgy whenever something is wrong but she keeps it whenever she's having a hard time. 

When a bullying scandal involving her suddenly arose, she never talked about it. She said she was fine but everybody knows she isn't. 

"They are busy. I'm fine. I can walk, see?" I told them wiggling my feet along the process, my grin never leaving my face. 

In all honesty, it's hurting a little, but showing them I was hurting meant them being frantic all night, and that's something I don't really like. 

Every one of us is busy taking classes like singing and dancing lessons, plus, we get to have our monthly evaluations. I don't want to add up to the trouble they are facing. 

"Yah, go to sleep. You guys have practice tomorrow," I told them as I move and disperse everyone.

Tokyo looked at me in worry, "Will you be able to shoot tomorrow with your foot in that state?" she asked and the three looked at me, waiting for an answer. 

A forced smile escaped my lips strengthening the strong facade I'm trying to show in front of them. 

"Yah, the manager promised that she'll feed me chicken for my breakfast. That's more than enough to give me energy," I cheekily exclaimed and they all smiled, giving up on me. 

In no time, each of us was heading straight to our rooms. Thankfully, only the four of us share the dorm.

After washing up and changing into a pair of pajamas, I plopped my body on my bed, a satisfying sound emerging on my lips. My hands were spread on my bed, a smile on my lips. 

My eyes were still swollen from all the crying that I did for the MV and I hope my face wouldn't be bloated tomorrow. 

"Whatever, I would film another crying scene anyways," I whispered to myself before pulling the blanket to cover my body. 

I let out a sigh, another long day ahead for tomorrow. 

Just then, the sound of my phone beeping startled me. 

"Huh? Who would send me a message at this hour?"

I sat on my bed and reach out for my phone which was resting on my bedside table. 

To be honest, I'm not someone who usually fiddle with my phone texting people. But I do use it a lot to play some games. I don't have a lot of things I spend my time with so I settled with playing games on my phone. 

My brows furrowed after seeing an unknown number flashing on my screen. 

Unknown: Are still awake? 

"Huh?" I tilted my head a little. "Who could this be? Maybe it was a wrong number..."

Shrugging my shoulder, I put my phone back at the table and went back to bed. Covering my body back with a blanket, I closed my eyes as I desperately try my best to sleep.

The next day, I had to wake up really early for my shoot and like what happened before, it was so hard and exhausting.  

"It's so hard..." a soft thud echoed through the place as I sat on the lowest elevation on the stairs. 

Once again, I found myself sitting alone in the fire exit. 

Like yesterday, the shoot was tiring. And it was tiring because I'm having a hard time forcing myself to cry. I'm a naturally jolly person and sometimes, I go zig when the others zag. It's just basically my personality. 

"Ahhhh," I whisper cry as I remove the shoes I was wearing, a swollen ankle greeting before me. It wasn't that swollen but it's still a little painful. Maybe it was because I was forcing myself to walk like usual so people won't notice that I hurt my foot. 

Lifting my gaze in the ceiling, a set of feeble sounds escaped my mouth. Again, my manager is not yet around. 

There's no hope in waiting. I have been waiting for my manager outside for more than an hour and the pitiful stare I kept receiving from the staff are too much to take in so I decided to go back and wait at the fire exit like yesterday. 

"Haissst, you really are noisy aren't you, Dalgom-ah's Mom?" I almost choked on my own saliva after hearing that familiar voice. 

Abruptly, I stood up and turned my heels and saw the very same person I met yesterday, only this time, he's wearing a dark blue jumper paired with black pants, and a cap over his head. 

I felt all the hairs at the back of my neck stood up, my right hand covering my mouth in shock. 

"Oh my God! Ghost! You're that ghost!" I exclaimed and my knees almost gave in when I heard him chuckle. 

I watch as he slowly moved and walked straight to me, gently pulling me back so I can sit down. 

My eyes widened, my heart beating rapidly.

"Wha-" 

"Don't speak. I'm tired, just let me handle this," he cut me off and I watch as he sat down and pull out something on the bag he was carrying. 

He reached for my swollen feet and I was startled when he put an ice pack on it. I flinched the moment the cold pack made contact with my skin. 

"Why do you have an ice pack with you? You normally carry this around?" I laughed but he didn't. 

"No matter how you hide it, it was obvious that you were hurting. Don't be stubborn. Have it check or you might say goodbye to your career this early," he stated before lifting his head and stare straight to my eyes. 

That instant, I was lost for words. 

His stare, they were different, unlike those I've seen before. 

His eyes, it was as if... 

As if he cares... 

I gulped. 

And then he smiled. 

Holy fudge. 

"How's Dalgom-ah?" he asked but I was too lost over his smile I wasn't able to grasp what he was saying. 

"Huh?"

"Awwww!" I hissed in pain when he flicked my forehead once again. 

But I was caught off-guard when he started rubbing it to ease the pain. 

"Focus. Didn't I tell you not to stay here alone because it isn't safe?" Once again, I was lost for words. 

The way his touch started calming my nerves caught me off-guard. 

"You're really a ghost, aren't you?" I whispered and he laughs. 

I love hearing the sound of his laughter. It's refreshing and pure. 

"I just told you to focus yet here you are spouting nonsense. You remind me of someone, a certain member of mine," he said while smiling. 

My eyes avoided his gaze. 

His smile is not good for my heart. 

The sound of my phone ringing gave me a reason to do something. But before I can even answer the call, it ended. Instead, a message came right in asking where I was and that I go down since the car is ready. 

I stood up immediately, the ice pack on my foot fell.

"I- ahhmmm, I need to go," I don't know why but I started stuttering.

I grab my things and frantically walk straight to the door.

"Cali..." I stopped midway when I heard him call for my name. 

I don't remember introducing myself to him. 

"How d-"

"I heard it from the staff around," he looked at me intently. " in an accident," he added and that made me a nod before stepping out.

Of course, why would he know? 

"Chu..." he called me once again and this time, it was a nickname. 

I turned around and looked at him. 

"Answer my message next time so I'd stop worrying," he whispered.

"Huh?" 

Before I can even hear his response, I heard my manager calling me from afar. 

"Go. And put another ice pack on that once you get home," he whispered while smiling, though from where I was standing, I can clearly see how exhausted he looked. 

I released my hand from the door and watch how his form slowly diminished from my sight. 

This is my last day of filming; will I ever see him again?